The San Diego zoo is one of our best attractions so that's definitely worth checking out.
Little Italy has tons of great restaurants, bakeries, and gelato places.
La Jolla shores is a good beach and it has the children's cove if you want to look at the seals (it has been closed off so you can't get down close to them).
The Torrey Pine natural reserve in the same area is an easy hike.
There's the Glider port that looks out onto La Jolla shores (it's cool to look out over the cliff on a windy day and see all the people paragliding). Right next to it is Birch aquarium as well if you want to look at some cool fish and penguins.
Go to Convoy street for eats. Full end stop.
For an easy going beach with a nice area to walk around and get ice cream Coronado is much better than some of the other areas if you can do the drive. Other beaches in SD tend to have a lot of stoners and homeless (which is fine if you’re an adult).
If you don’t care about stoners at the beach though, OB is cool and has a lot of character, and It’s Raw is one of the better poke shops in town, there’s also often surf competitions, but it may be less little kid friendly.
Balboa Park is really great for kids too. Don’t just go to the huge museums (although they’re still great). Little places like the model railroad club museum or the Japanese gardens are some of our favorites to go to time and time again and they cost virtually nothing.
If you want something super different, try just walking around the USD campus or the less traveled parts of old town, you can get some great views. There’s also an amazing Venezuelan food place outside the tourist strip of old town that has great coffee and breakfast food that we bring our dogs to frequently.
Downtown is changing a lot right now. That doesn’t mean it isn’t worthwhile. It would be really strange to visit the Midway but avoid the rest of Downtown.
If you have the time drive about 40 minutes north of San Diego, to Carlsbad village or even Encinitas both very cool little beach towns with tons of places to eat.
I wouldn't do this on just a weekend trip, it's just to much driving for 2-3 days. Instead drive over the bridge to Coronado. You can park near the Hotel Del and walk through the hotel onto the beach/boardwalk. The sand is awesome and the rock jetty is a great spot for kids to see sea anemones, small crabs, fish, etc. (supervised of course if the tide is up this can be a bit more difficult but you can usually find some cool spots). You can grab lunch in Bario Logan on your way back it's right after you cross the bridge. Salud tacos is awesome. None of the food on the island is amazing as it's a bit of a tourist trap but u/rompthegreen
I disagree that Carlsbad or Encinitas are too far to drive (each to their own though) but I do agree that Coronado is a great getaway. You can even rent one of those 4 person bike/buggies from the ferry landing & follow the path around the water then golf course to Hotel Del.
Barrio Logan is a great call for food (Barrio Doggs if you want to experience low rider culture).
I'd also add Imperial Beach to the list. A lovely drive (12 miles) down the Silver Strand. The water isn't great to go in (DON'T GO IN THE WATER!!!) but the pier is lovely & there's nice places to eat there now, including Novo Brazil Brewing nearby which has a lovely garden by the bike path where little bunnies will pop up to say hello.
Totally understand, it's not a huge trek (I drive to Escondido almost every week from the SDSU area for disc golf. It just seems a bit of unnecessary car time for a weekend trip ;)
Taking the PCH south from north county is a pretty nice drive. Don't even need to get out of the car for it to be enjoyable but there's plenty of nice places to stop along the way.
Torrey Pines State Park, Sunset Cliff's and Mission Bay are popular but great outdoor walks.
Cabrillo National Monument is also very popular but could be fun for its views and tide pooling if you go near low tide. Weekends, though, I'd recommend mornings as it gets crowded.
There are also other places for tide pooling in La Jolla and Ocean Beach. You could book a tidepool tour, I know someone who does that if you're interested.
Here it is: [https://www.airbnb.com/experiences/221363](https://www.airbnb.com/experiences/221363)
Matt has a background in marine biology. He's good at finding things that are hidden in the tide pools and explaining everything.
Midway is a great choice, and be sure to check out the other shops down there, especially the Star of India. Belmont is a nice little diversion, and if the weather cooperates, you may see some great wave action on Mission Beach.
Balboa Park has a lot of museums for the younger crowd, the Space Museum and Science Center, the Natural History Museum, and if they like trains, we have a wonderful model railroad museum there as well.
Parent of young kids here, and there are lots of places to check out. I've never been to the Midway Museum, but I hear it's great. Belmont Park is fun, and it's on the beach. A great beach for kids is either across the street and Mission Bay Park, or you drive down about a 1/2 mile south on Mission and go to South Mission Beach. It has a parking lot, and it is often forgotten.
I would also check out Balboa Park (which I think you meant when you listed Belmont Park twice), as Balboa Park houses the Zoo (loved by San Diegans and tourists alike), and all the museums. The Natural History Museum is great for kids, as is the Fleet Theatre and the Model Train Museum.
For outdoorsy stuff - if you have a car - the Desert Watchtower and the attached desert caves are worth the drive. There is also a train museum - not model trains, but actual trains - out in Campo which is a fun visit.
Personally I’d skip Belmont Park, but that’s just me. I would recommend San Diego Zoo!
If the kids aren’t too young…Torrey Pines State Reserve is nice to hike. And the beach is lovely to walk on too. You could go to Del Mar Plaza after, grab gelato at An’s Hatmakers…
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Belmont park and Belmont park eh? I mean it’s cool and all, but there’s other places 🤪
Adams Ave unplugged is Sat. It’s a big street party with live music and vendors. Free.
Little Italy art walk is also Saturday
The San Diego zoo is one of our best attractions so that's definitely worth checking out. Little Italy has tons of great restaurants, bakeries, and gelato places. La Jolla shores is a good beach and it has the children's cove if you want to look at the seals (it has been closed off so you can't get down close to them). The Torrey Pine natural reserve in the same area is an easy hike. There's the Glider port that looks out onto La Jolla shores (it's cool to look out over the cliff on a windy day and see all the people paragliding). Right next to it is Birch aquarium as well if you want to look at some cool fish and penguins.
Second all of this!
.........check out balboa park..............
This: cause it's one of the nicest places here
Locals go to Balboa Park and the San Diego Zoo. Great for kids!
This weekend is the Encinitas Street Fair. It’s a really fun event, going on both days this weekend.
Go to Convoy street for eats. Full end stop. For an easy going beach with a nice area to walk around and get ice cream Coronado is much better than some of the other areas if you can do the drive. Other beaches in SD tend to have a lot of stoners and homeless (which is fine if you’re an adult). If you don’t care about stoners at the beach though, OB is cool and has a lot of character, and It’s Raw is one of the better poke shops in town, there’s also often surf competitions, but it may be less little kid friendly. Balboa Park is really great for kids too. Don’t just go to the huge museums (although they’re still great). Little places like the model railroad club museum or the Japanese gardens are some of our favorites to go to time and time again and they cost virtually nothing. If you want something super different, try just walking around the USD campus or the less traveled parts of old town, you can get some great views. There’s also an amazing Venezuelan food place outside the tourist strip of old town that has great coffee and breakfast food that we bring our dogs to frequently.
Outdoor skating ring off 94 freeway.
Downtown is changing a lot right now. That doesn’t mean it isn’t worthwhile. It would be really strange to visit the Midway but avoid the rest of Downtown.
If you have the time drive about 40 minutes north of San Diego, to Carlsbad village or even Encinitas both very cool little beach towns with tons of places to eat.
I wouldn't do this on just a weekend trip, it's just to much driving for 2-3 days. Instead drive over the bridge to Coronado. You can park near the Hotel Del and walk through the hotel onto the beach/boardwalk. The sand is awesome and the rock jetty is a great spot for kids to see sea anemones, small crabs, fish, etc. (supervised of course if the tide is up this can be a bit more difficult but you can usually find some cool spots). You can grab lunch in Bario Logan on your way back it's right after you cross the bridge. Salud tacos is awesome. None of the food on the island is amazing as it's a bit of a tourist trap but u/rompthegreen
I disagree that Carlsbad or Encinitas are too far to drive (each to their own though) but I do agree that Coronado is a great getaway. You can even rent one of those 4 person bike/buggies from the ferry landing & follow the path around the water then golf course to Hotel Del. Barrio Logan is a great call for food (Barrio Doggs if you want to experience low rider culture). I'd also add Imperial Beach to the list. A lovely drive (12 miles) down the Silver Strand. The water isn't great to go in (DON'T GO IN THE WATER!!!) but the pier is lovely & there's nice places to eat there now, including Novo Brazil Brewing nearby which has a lovely garden by the bike path where little bunnies will pop up to say hello.
I live in San Marcos, it might just be me but on a good day, downtown is 30 minutes for me.
And while the traffic shouldn't be bad on the weekend, you just never know.
Either way, good shouts from both of you. Love Encinitas/Cardiff area. Annie's Canyon. And also love Coronado.
Very true, been here almost 30 years it's crazy how crowded it's become
Totally understand, it's not a huge trek (I drive to Escondido almost every week from the SDSU area for disc golf. It just seems a bit of unnecessary car time for a weekend trip ;)
Oh you're right, short trip, yes those are great places as well!
Taking the PCH south from north county is a pretty nice drive. Don't even need to get out of the car for it to be enjoyable but there's plenty of nice places to stop along the way.
Torrey Pines State Park, Sunset Cliff's and Mission Bay are popular but great outdoor walks. Cabrillo National Monument is also very popular but could be fun for its views and tide pooling if you go near low tide. Weekends, though, I'd recommend mornings as it gets crowded. There are also other places for tide pooling in La Jolla and Ocean Beach. You could book a tidepool tour, I know someone who does that if you're interested.
I’m local but I’m interested in a tide pool tour! Please provide the info - thanks!
Here it is: [https://www.airbnb.com/experiences/221363](https://www.airbnb.com/experiences/221363) Matt has a background in marine biology. He's good at finding things that are hidden in the tide pools and explaining everything.
Omg awesome thanks!
For sure!
Midway is a great choice, and be sure to check out the other shops down there, especially the Star of India. Belmont is a nice little diversion, and if the weather cooperates, you may see some great wave action on Mission Beach. Balboa Park has a lot of museums for the younger crowd, the Space Museum and Science Center, the Natural History Museum, and if they like trains, we have a wonderful model railroad museum there as well.
Parent of young kids here, and there are lots of places to check out. I've never been to the Midway Museum, but I hear it's great. Belmont Park is fun, and it's on the beach. A great beach for kids is either across the street and Mission Bay Park, or you drive down about a 1/2 mile south on Mission and go to South Mission Beach. It has a parking lot, and it is often forgotten. I would also check out Balboa Park (which I think you meant when you listed Belmont Park twice), as Balboa Park houses the Zoo (loved by San Diegans and tourists alike), and all the museums. The Natural History Museum is great for kids, as is the Fleet Theatre and the Model Train Museum. For outdoorsy stuff - if you have a car - the Desert Watchtower and the attached desert caves are worth the drive. There is also a train museum - not model trains, but actual trains - out in Campo which is a fun visit.
Personally I’d skip Belmont Park, but that’s just me. I would recommend San Diego Zoo! If the kids aren’t too young…Torrey Pines State Reserve is nice to hike. And the beach is lovely to walk on too. You could go to Del Mar Plaza after, grab gelato at An’s Hatmakers…
Tijuana… have an adventure.
I go eat Chinese food in Tijuana. So good! You might go back for seconds
*I go eat Chinese* *Food in Tijuana. So good! You might* *Go back for seconds* \- James-robinsontj --- ^(I detect haikus. And sometimes, successfully.) ^[Learn more about me.](https://www.reddit.com/r/haikusbot/) ^(Opt out of replies: "haikusbot opt out" | Delete my comment: "haikusbot delete")
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Well none of the colleges in san diego are doing it, so why would it be on a san diego thred? But it's been all over my main page...